7 research outputs found
Effects of Agroecological Practices (Zaï and Stone-Rows) on Soil Fertility and Sorghum Yield in Response to Effects of Climate Change to Achieve Food Security
No full textThe adoption of sustainable agricultural practices can slow down the degradation of arable land and enhance agricultural productivity, particularly land in the context of climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of agroecological practices, specifically zaï and stone-rows (SR), on soil fertility and sorghum (kapelga variety) productivity in the northern Sudanian zone. The research was conducted in the village of Tanghin in a rural setting with four treatments, namely, zaï (Z), SR, the combination of stone-rows and zaï (CP + Z), and a control plot representing traditional peasant practices. Each of these treatments, selected after a survey of 30 farmers, was replicated four times. Key parameters evaluated in the 0–20-cm soil layer included particle size (at five fractions), organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable bases, and pH as well as the sorghum grain yield. The results showed that the managed plots, compared to the control, exhibited a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5–6.8), along with an increase in organic carbon (+0.4%), CEC (+4.16 meq/100 g), and the sum of exchangeable bases (+7.608 meq/100 g). Grain sorghum yields were also increased by nearly 300% on plots managed with SR + Z and by 200% on plots with zaï (Z) and SR, compared to the farmer’s practices. While zaï and SR with organic manure had a positive effect on soil physical (soil layer) and chemical (carbon, nitrogen, and so on) fertility, it was evident that their combined effect was significantly greater. These results highlight the potential of traditional agroecological practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change on soil degradation and food production and suggest a pathway towards sustainable agriculture
Effects of Spacing Between Stone-Rows on the Chemical and Biological Fertility of Lixisoils in Eastern Burkina Faso
No full textInternational audienceThis study assessed the effects of stone-rows spacing on soil fertility and the potential for a fertility gradient to occur in a farming setting. The study was conducted in a rural area of Sampieri, eastern Burkina Faso, within a Sudano-Sahelian environment on Lixisols with a medium slope of up to 5%. The experimental design included three plots, each with a different stone-rows spacing: 15.5 m (P1), 18.5 m (P2) and 22 m (P3). Soil samples were taken at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, with interval ranging from 0 to 15 m from the rows. Soil organic carbon(C), total nitrogen (N), pH and soil microbiological activity were measured. The study showed that C, N, P and pH levels improved more on plots P2 and P1 than on plot P3. Although differences were noted for microbiology, they were not statistically significant. A correlation was found and most soil fertility parameters. However, no soil fertility gradient was evident as a function of slope when moving away from the first stone-rows line. It can be concluded that the optimal spacing between stone-rows is 18.5 m and that it is difficult to deduce a fertility gradient within this interval. However, further research is needed for validation and confirmation of these findings
Effects of Spacing Between Stone-Rows on the Chemical and Biological Fertility of Lixisoils in Eastern Burkina Faso
No full textInternational audienceThis study assessed the effects of stone-rows spacing on soil fertility and the potential for a fertility gradient to occur in a farming setting. The study was conducted in a rural area of Sampieri, eastern Burkina Faso, within a Sudano-Sahelian environment on Lixisols with a medium slope of up to 5%. The experimental design included three plots, each with a different stone-rows spacing: 15.5 m (P1), 18.5 m (P2) and 22 m (P3). Soil samples were taken at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, with interval ranging from 0 to 15 m from the rows. Soil organic carbon(C), total nitrogen (N), pH and soil microbiological activity were measured. The study showed that C, N, P and pH levels improved more on plots P2 and P1 than on plot P3. Although differences were noted for microbiology, they were not statistically significant. A correlation was found and most soil fertility parameters. However, no soil fertility gradient was evident as a function of slope when moving away from the first stone-rows line. It can be concluded that the optimal spacing between stone-rows is 18.5 m and that it is difficult to deduce a fertility gradient within this interval. However, further research is needed for validation and confirmation of these findings
Effects of Spacing Between Stone-Rows on the Chemical and Biological Fertility of Lixisoils in Eastern Burkina Faso
No full textThis study assessed the effects of stone-rows spacing on soil fertility and the potential for a fertility gradient to occur in a farming setting. The study was conducted in a rural area of Sampieri, eastern Burkina Faso, within a Sudano-Sahelian environment on Lixisols with a medium slope of up to 5%. The experimental design included three plots, each with a different stone-rows spacing: 15.5 m (P1), 18.5 m (P2) and 22 m (P3). Soil samples were taken at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, with interval ranging from 0 to 15 m from the rows. Soil organic carbon(C), total nitrogen (N), pH and soil microbiological activity were measured. The study showed that C, N, P and pH levels improved more on plots P2 and P1 than on plot P3. Although differences were noted for microbiology, they were not statistically significant. A correlation was found and most soil fertility parameters. However, no soil fertility gradient was evident as a function of slope when moving away from the first stone-rows line. It can be concluded that the optimal spacing between stone-rows is 18.5 m and that it is difficult to deduce a fertility gradient within this interval. However, further research is needed for validation and confirmation of these findings
Estimation of Soil Hydrodynamic Parameters Related to Agricultural PracticesCase of the Tougou Experimental Site (Burkina Faso)
No full textRelationship between soil water content and crop yield under sahelian climate conditions: case study of Tougou experimental site in Burkina Faso
No full textThis study aims at assessing the relationship between soil water stock and the yield of agricultural practices in Tougou catchment located in northern Burkina Faso. It is a region that has experienced a significant and continuous degradation of its natural resources, especially soils, due to the climate variability and the rapid increase of the population. Areas allocated to subsistence agriculture are increasing at the expense of pastoral land. This degradation causes a change in processes and mechanisms that control ecological systems. In order to provide solutions to this issue, some agricultural practices have been implemented to improve crop yield. This is particularly the case of traditional techniques:za, stony line and half-moon, which can significantly improve the soil infiltration capacity and yield. Daily monitoring of soil moisture and pressure in experimental plots based on these agricultural practices show that half-moon and Za¯ provided good yield with 2180kg / ha and 1070 kg / ha respectively compared to that of the control plot with about 480 kg/ha. These important yields are due in large part to the improvement of the retention capacity of these soils, thus giving to crops the necessary water need for their development even in drought period
Multi-scale analysis of runoff from a statistical perspective in a small Sahelian catchment under semi-arid climate
No full textIn Sahelian and semi-arid regions, understanding the runoff processes and at different spatial scales is critical to assess sources of variation and further improve distributed modelling. In this study, through a multi-scale analysis, runoff measurements on different soil surface features and at different scales of observation were carried over 6 years of monitoring in a typical Sahelian landscape in Burkina Faso. Statistical and dimensional analyses were used to investigate significant differences in runoff response behaviour on plots of 1 m(2), 50 m(2) and 150 m(2), hydrologic units of 6 and 34 ha and the catchment of 37 km(2). Results showed that on both cultivated and bare soils, the runoff excess decreases as the area increases, under similar rainfall pattern and prior antecedent soil moisture conditions. On degraded soils, the processes of runoff generation on the plots of 50 and 150 m(2) are identical and significantly different from those observed on the unit plot (1 m(2)). A minimum plot length of 10 m was found to be sufficient to accurately estimate runoff on degraded soils. On cultivated soils, runoff is significantly different from one site to another because of the spatial variability of hydrodynamic properties of the soil. Such results show that the scale effect on runoff is related to the spatial heterogeneity of soils and is further intensified by the rainfall intensity. Such results highlight the value of quantification of runoff on homogeneous units, hence allowing an innovative approach to the problem of scale transfer
